Heart Work: Embracing Intersectionality in Indianapolis

There’s hard work, and there’s heart work. Throughout my multifaceted career, I’ve positioned myself within many of Indiana’s leading industries as an expert in equitable organizational leadership and strategy — and though the work is complex, my mission is simple: helping Indianapolis embrace its intersectionality. In 2024 alone, Indianapolis has collaborated on a global stage to host All-Star Weekend and the U.S. Olympic Swim Trials. Through innovative approaches to public, private and philanthropic partnerships, Indiana has cemented itself as a global sports destination — and this designation has a tremendous impact on our competitiveness, business and talent attraction, and economic impact. In fact, Mayor Hogsett was quoted sharing that the projected economic impact of the NBA All-Star Game was around $320 million. The results are clear: when Indiana partners across county, industry, and political lines, we’re unstoppable. The question remains, how far are we willing to go together? I’m a Black, biracial woman born and raised a Hoosier. Although I state this identity with confidence today, it hasn’t always been easy to navigate. Living on the edges of identity always allowed me to see how I relate to others’ cultures, languages, and experiences — even if their experiences don’t mirror...